Three-year, $48M Cornwall inquiry requires more time to deliver

CBC News.ca

Thursday, July 9, 2009 | 6:44 PM ET

The Canadian Press

A public inquiry in eastern Ontario examining institutional responses to sex abuse allegations is asking for more time to complete its report.

The three-year, nearly $50-million inquiry heard much testimony about allegations that a pedophile ring operated in the Cornwall area and public officials covered it up.

Many of the closing submissions focused on urging Commissioner G. Normand Glaude to debunk the theory that a pedophile ring existed.

Those submissions also blamed the sensational story, of which provincial police found no evidence, on former Cornwall police officer Perry Dunlop.

The inquiry heard the argument that vulnerable witnesses were easily manipulated by Dunlop into concocting an explosive tale of ritual sexual abuse.

Glaude heard during final submissions that supporters of Dunlop became a group of media-savvy conspiracy theorists who exacted maximum damage on those targeted while Dunlop was seen as a local hero for his crusade against pedophiles.

Dunlop, who has since moved to British Columbia and no longer works in law enforcement, refused to testify at the inquiry and was jailed for seven months on civil and criminal contempt convictions.

Closing submissions were heard in late February and the report was due July 31.

The commission, however, has now requested an extension until the late fall.

A statement released Thursday said the report is "substantially completed," but more time is required for editing, translating and typesetting.

The inquiry was established in 2005. When it continued into October 2008, the provincial government stepped in and set an end date.

A spokesman for Ontario's attorney general's office said the department is reviewing the commission's request and will respond soon.

"This has been a long, difficult, complicated process but we understand the writing of the report is close to completion," the attorney general's office said in a statement."

The commissioner has asked for an extension of time to deliver the report and he is in the best position to explain the reasons for his request.

"The province has pegged the cost of the inquiry at about $45.2 million, as of March 31. That does not include a special assistance grant of $3.2 million the province provided to Cornwall in February 2007 to help the city with costs arising from the inquiry.

© The Canadian Press, 2009 

Three-year, $48M Cornwall inquiry asks for more time to complete final report

Penticton Herald

Thursday, July 9, 2009

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

CORNWALL, Ont. - A public inquiry in eastern Ontario examining institutional responses to sex abuse allegations is asking for more time to complete its report.

The three-year, nearly $50-million Cornwall inquiry heard much testimony about allegations that a pedophile clan operated in the area and public officials covered it up.

Many of the closing submissions focused on urging Commissioner G. Normand Glaude to debunk the theory and placed the blame for the sensational story, of which provincial police found no evidence, on former Cornwall police officer Perry Dunlop.

Vulnerable witnesses were easily manipulated by Dunlop into concocting an explosive tale of ritual sexual abuse, the inquiry heard.

And supporters of Dunlop, who was seen as a local hero for his crusade against pedophiles, became a group of media-savvy conspiracy theorists who exacted maximum damage on those targeted, Glaude heard during final submissions.

Dunlop, who has since moved to British Columbia and no longer works in law enforcement, refused to testify at the inquiry and was jailed for seven months on civil and criminal contempt convictions.

Closing submissions were heard in late February and the report was due July 31, but the commission is now requesting an extension until the late fall.

A statement released Thursday said the report is "substantially completed," but more time is required for editing, translating and typesetting.

The inquiry was established in 2005. When it was still plugging away in October 2008, the provincial government stepped in and set an end date.

A spokesman for Ontario’s attorney general’s office said the department is reviewing the commission’s request and will be responding soon.

"This has been a long, difficult, complicated process but we understand the writing of the report is close to completion," a statement said.

"The commissioner has asked for an extension of time to deliver the report and he is in the best position to explain the reasons for his request."

The province pegs the cost of the inquiry at about $45.2 million, as of March 31. That does not include a special assistance grant of $3.2 million the province provided to Cornwall in February 2007 to help the city with costs arising from the inquiry.

$40M Cornwall inquiry wants more time to complete report

Toronto Star 

Jul 09, 2009 10:54 AM  

THE CANADIAN PRESS

CORNWALL, Ont. – A public inquiry in eastern Ontario examining institutional responses to sex abuse allegations is asking for more time to complete its report.

The three-year, $40-million Cornwall inquiry heard much testimony about allegations that a pedophile clan operated and public officials covered it up.

Many of the closing submissions focused on urging Commissioner G. Normand Glaude to finally debunk the theory years after rumours spread through the community.

Many suggest the blame for the sensational story, of which provincial police found no evidence, could be placed on former Cornwall police officer Perry Dunlop.

Testimony wrapped in late February and the report was due July 31, but the commission is now requesting an extension until the late fall.

A statement says the report is "substantially completed," but more time is required for editing, translating and typesetting.